Speeches & Statements

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON RECENT POSITIONS TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES (U.S.) GOVERNMENT WITH REGARD TO PALESTINE

1.       Malaysia is deeply concerned and strongly disagrees with the recent positions taken by the United States (U.S.) Government with regard to Palestine.

2.       Over the past few weeks, the U.S. Government had decided to cut more than USD200 million in bilateral aid to the Palestinians; ended its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); and ordered the closure of the office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington. The U.S. Government also attributed its decision to close the PLO Office over the efforts by Palestine to prompt an investigation against Israel by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Further, this Palestinian initiative was a factor in the U.S. Government’s recent criticisms of the ICC.

3.       Such moves by the U.S. Government weakens the multilateral system; ignores the reality on the ground; supports and help to perpetuate Israel’s brutal and policies which contravene international law; and violates the rights of the Palestinian people.

4.       Malaysia firmly believes that the positions taken by the U.S. Government are counterproductive towards finding a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It would also undermine and jeopardize the efforts of the international community in ensuring the security and stability of the region.

5.       Malaysia further regards the actions of the U.S. Government as a humiliation to the Palestinians and their struggle for the right to self-determination. It would inflame sentiments and hamper any future peace negotiations.

6.       All of these were preceded by the previous decision of the U.S. Government to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and subsequently moved its Embassy to Jerusalem, which many had regarded as unacceptable.

7.       In view of the recent developments, Malaysia calls upon the Muslim community to continue showing their solidarity with the Palestinian people and hopes for a stronger support in order to end the longest occupation in modern history.

8.       Malaysia also urges the international community to pursue all legal, political, diplomatic and economic channels to create the necessary conditions for peace in the region. The Palestinian cause is not an issue for Muslims alone, but also to all who believe in the multilateral system. We must uphold the legitimate right to self-determination, which constitutes one of the very core principles of the United Nations (U.N.) in its founding.

9.       Malaysia reiterates its firm position that a two-State solution, in which the Palestinians and the Israelis live side by side in peace, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, is the only viable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

PUTRAJAYA

12 September 2018